The Fair Credit Reporting Act grants you the opportunity to obtain a copy of your credit reports every year. This law was established by the FTC to enable people to audit their credit report for errors and misuse. The tips on requesting your free yearly credit reports below will help you get started.

What Is Included in Credit Reports

Every credit report details personal facts and finances. It tracks your previous addresses, credit cards and mortgages, and monetary judgments such as a law suit or bankruptcy. This report is analyzed by lenders, employers, insurance companies, and the like to determine your financial worthiness. It is thus essential to ensure that the report is up to date.

Requesting Report Copies

There are three separate credit agencies: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. Each may maintain slightly distinct sets of facts on you. They also tally scores differently. You may obtain a copy of your reports online at annualcreditreport.com. This website was set up for this specific reason. You can also contact them at 1-877-322-8228 or mail a special request form to them. You will be asked to provide your name, birth date, social security, and current and past addresses to establish your identity.

Other Credit Reporting Websites

Many other websites use data from individual credit agencies and keep track of changes. They alert you of certain activity in your file (such as the credit score being requested or new accounts being set up). This can enable you to follow your score in between the 12 months and detecting any acts of fraud.

CreditKarma.com is one service that offers no-cost service and will not even ask you for a credit card. Many alternate services are marketed as free but ultimately assess a fee after an initial trial period, so be aware of the terms before signing up. Also be aware of phony sites that target typical mis-typing of web addresses. These sites are established to grab your private information.

Summary of Tips On Requesting Your Free Yearly Credit Reports

The above tips on requesting your free yearly credit reports will help you monitor your credit report. Get a copy of your credit report and look through it closely. Contact the credit bureaus to initiate corrections on any errors. For more complex matters, you may want to hire a credit repair specialist for suggestions. This blog is provided merely as an introduction and must not be interpreted as legal advice.